Fond memories of Christmas at Clifton

RIXEYVILLE — Christmas at Clifton reaped the wholesome riches of a year’s worth of hard work on this historic farm. The holidays brought seasonal foods and preparation, family visits, simple gift-giving and charity.

Since being built circa 1845 by one George Roberts Crigler (1807-1900), this vast agricultural estate north of town has remained in the family year after year.

For its Greek Revival architecture, large collection of surviving outbuildings and its continuity as a working farmstead, Clifton earned a spot on the National Register for Historic Places earlier this year.

“We are really proud that we have been able to keep it and that it is being farmed,” said Kathy Ellis, Crigler descendant and current resident, in an on-site interview in July.

“To me it’s really important that we say this is a working farm, a middle-class, hardworking work ethic. They had some problems. They had bankruptcy after the Civil War. Things were not easy, and I think that’s why we value the place even more.”

In January, the Star-Exponent plans to run the full story on the rich history at Clifton and the family that lives there today. For now, here’s a taste of Christmas at Clifton, as recalled by Mary Miller Crigler Boldridge, 90, who grew up at Clifton and is Ellis’ mom:

* Uncle Allie Moffett Crigler, a businessman in Baltimore, would send a gallon tin of oysters by train. The Rixeyville mailman would pick them up at the train depot in town and deliver them to Clifton, still in the packing box, ice intact. The oysters were served fried or stewed.

* The Christmas tree was a cedar cut from the field. It had no electric lights, but sometimes unlit candles adorned the tree along with silver garland and glass balls. The children of Clifton created a pastoral scene of cows and horses around the base of the tree. On Christmas Eve, Aunt Berta made a boxwood wreath with a bow for the front door.

* Christmas Day began with a big family breakfast. Stockings were hung on the back of chairs near the tree, filled with an orange, always, and a few other useful items like a toothbrush or nail file.

* Children received only one gift from Santa. Mrs. Boldridge’s favorite gift was a saddle. She also got a toy wagon one Christmas. If a child received money, he/she was instructed to “save some, give some and spend some,” thus being taught the importance of saving and charity.

* Ribbons and wrapping paper were reused from year to year (the paper was ironed to remove creases). After gifts, more family visitors would arrive, moving from house to house, visiting, eating. Tenant farmers received one barrel of flour and some sugar on Christmas.

* The Christmas feast consisted of: turkey, ham, dressing made from scratch, oysters (of course), baked sweet potatoes, hot rolls cooked on the wood stove with butter and molasses, fruit cake and ambrosia for dessert and drinking custard (like eggnog but with no alcohol).

* For most of the year, there was no alcohol at Clifton because the family was Baptist. At Christmas, however, a little brandy was needed for the fruitcakes. Aunt Berta always brought “a wine jelly” to Christmas dinner as well because it was OK to “eat” alcohol, but not to “drink” it!

Brophy Champion can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 101 or